Do you want your dream honeymoon
and your perfect wedding in the same
place?
This is called a destination wedding.
If you wanted a big wedding, you will
have to scale back a lot to do this,
but on the other hand, how wonderful
to share your honeymoon with the people
you love best in the world! For older
couples, sometimes a destination wedding,
without tons of guests but with lots
of time to focus on one another, is
ideal.
If you do this, you won't have to rush
off to the airport, pack twice, or even
take off your wedding dress that day.
Near or far – how much
travel do you want to do for the honeymoon?
This is both a budget and a personal
preference question. A honeymoon isn't
about visiting exotic locations around
the world; it's about spending time
on the two of you. There are wonderful
places you've never seen within two
hundred miles of your home if you just
think about it. If this is what the
decision comes down to, opt for a longer
honeymoon close to home as opposed to
a short one far away. Give yourselves
the gifts of one another.
Save or splurge – should
we go into debt for our honeymoon?
This is up to you. Obviously, entering
debt before marriage (especially after
a big wedding ceremony) is not the greatest
idea; but if the debt is manageable
and it makes the difference between
an adequate resort and a fantastic dream
honeymoon, you should go for it. You'll
only have one honeymoon. Make the most
of it.
Sun and sand, or whitewater
rafting?
You and your fiancé are different
people and may have different tastes
- he prefers the excitement of a 8-hour
trip down a class 4 rapids, while you
want to lie on a white table with cucumbers
over your eyes getting a super-deep
massage. They're not mutually exclusive.
One of the delights of marriage is
that you each get to try what the other
loves. Look for a resort that serves
both of you. A ski lodge with a luxury
spa. An all-inclusive cruise with destinations
in the whitewater heaven of Costa Rica.
And then you both need to try the fun
the other has chosen.
What about learning something
new together?
Approach this with caution. Your first
lesson may convince one or both of you
that you hate skiing or snorkeling.
Trying something new together is great
when it works, but you should hedge
your bets by making it part of a larger
vacation. Don't plan every second out,
either. No more than 20% of your time
should be rigidly structured; the rest,
for your honeymoon, should be malleable
to suit your moods of the moment.
What if he wants a cruise,
and I want a resort? I hate the water!
You know, you can blend it. He may
like cruises, but you can do a three
day cruise ending in a nice stay at
an all-inclusive resort. Why do you
hate the water? If it's a genuine phobia,
you need to discuss this with your fiancé.
If, however, it's just an aversion,
give it a chance. Perhaps you had a
rotten cruise a few years back, or it
makes you think of an ex. A great experience
this time can revive your enthusiasm
for the water.
